A few steps later, he’s standing in front of me. My mouth drops open, his face sprayed with blood. My body begins to shake uncontrollably.
“It seems you’ve pissed someone off, Michael. Do you know who that could be?”
I try to speak, but I can’t form the words, my eyes fixed on the droplets of blood on his shirt. His hand rests on my shoulder, in an attempt to calm me. “I work at a fucking drug store. Who is there to piss off, Sean?”
He shrugs, glancing past me to what I’m assuming is a mass amount of blood and a dead body. “Someone wants you dead.”
“How–how do you know?”
“Because that’s not the first time since Scotty was shot that I’ve stopped someone from killing you.”
A shiver runs down my spine. Has Sean been following me without me even knowing? “What?”
“Three nights ago, I caught someone trying to break into your security system.”
That fear turns to rage. “And you didn’t think it was necessary to tell me about that?” My voice is elevated.
Sean shrugs, the little fuck. He brushes back a few unruly curls that have fallen around his eyes. I squint, catching a shiny flash by his nose. “Did you get your nose pierced?” I ask, noting the metal hoop plastered on his face.
His hand darts to the piercing and he pulls it out. “It’s fake.”
“You’re wearing a fake nose ring?”
He nods. “I’d never actually pierce it. Don’t want the scar. It’s just cool to look cool.” His hand brushes back the locks of hair around his ear, revealing some fake jewelry on the cartilage, too.
“Poser,” I say, still choosing to deflect. I really don’t want to know what awaits me if I look back.
“Fuck off,” Sean says.
And my line of sight falls to the blood on the cuff of his sleeve. Nerves swirl in my stomach. “Sean? What’s happening?”
“I have an idea, but we need to get rid of this body fast.”
“It’s the middle of the day and you just killed someone in pure daylight?”
“He was going to kill you, Griffin. He had a gun pointed at your head. And you had no fucking idea. Don’t they teach you situational awareness like day one in boot camp?”
I huff, shaking my head. “I’m not helping you move a dead body, Sean.”
He smirks. “Fine. Let’s leave it. The cops on our payroll will be super excited to clean that mess up. It’ll cost us a hefty fine, but so long as Prince Griffin doesn’t have to get his hands dirty.”
“You killed him, not me!” I cry out, exasperated.
“Raise your voice. I don’t think the block overheard you yet.”
I flip him the bird. He snorts, brushing past me to return to the mess behind me. I still haven’t gained the courage to see what’s waiting for me.
“Come on. Help me out here.”
He grunts, and I turn just in time to see him lifting up a limp body that’s covered in blood. It’s a man with blood dripping from his temple. His neck is slit, and his brown lifeless eyes are still open.
Bile threatens to leave my stomach, creeping up my throat.
The eyes always do me in. I waited, holding Paddy’s bleeding leg in my hands, praying the light in his steel gray eyes didn’t dim. If they had, I truly believed I would have taken my life along with his. And now, looking at this soulless vessel, the past churns with the present.
“Griffin,” Sean says, trying to catch his breath as he drags the man from under his armpits. “Help me. Jesus Christ.”
I shake my head furiously. “I have to go.”
